Last week, I had the opportunity to visit Kyuquot, a small community on the northwest coast of Vancouver Island. Technically it was a fishing trip, but I was netting word count, because when the anglers are away, the writer will play.
A more spectacular perch from which to write would be hard to find. Inspirational vistas, no cell phone service, and only a whisper of Internet added up to hours of uninterrupted writing bliss.
The Fishing Lodge
The lodge is located on one of the small islands that dot Kyuquot Sound. Every window offered a spectacular view, and the expansive decks that surround the lodge provided plenty of outdoor space.
Kayaks and hiking were right outside the door, and directly across from us, a helicopter flew in and out of a nursing station outpost. On Thursday, we headed outside to wave to the MV Uchuck III which cruised by on its weekly supply trip.
Each day when the crew returned with their catch, they’d clean the fish on the dock. They’d take the heads and innards to a nearby rock to feed the local wildlife. The gorging that ensued was a photographer’s dream even for those of us without long lenses.
The One That Got Away
With the salmon iced down and the eagles fed, we’d enjoy a glass of wine or a cold beer, and the anglers would entertain us with colourful lies about the one(s) that got away. Each evening a different crew cooked dinner, salmon on all but one night, and I’d be hard-pressed to choose a favourite rendition.
Sadly, we couldn’t stay forever, but we left Kyuquot topped up with good food, fond memories and loaded fishing coolers.
The next Gift Legacy book sits at +50K words, well over the halfway mark. Every day I’m pumped to write the next scene, and if I ever need some Kyuquot inspiration, I can always cook a yummy salmon dinner and gaze out to the Pacific!
A note on the rebranding front: yesterday I set up a table at Denman’s Saturday market and a group of three women approached to ask if the books had a religious theme. That’s three more votes for rebranding!
